Since 1997, Region 2020 has led the efforts for regional cooperation and citizen involvement in its 12-county footprint in Central Alabama. With the support of citizens such as you, the corporate community and foundations such as The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, we have made significant progress on the regional goals established by the community more than seven years ago.

Regional Indicators: Region 2020 and The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham have completed development of a benchmarking process called “Community Counts Measuring Progress in Our Region.” Communities can use the more than 85 indicators to help gauge whether initiatives are producing desired results. The establishment of regional indicators is receiving national attention as a “best practice,” and is an important component of any comprehensive regional effort. Indicators measure quality-of-life in areas such as: Government; Environment; Economy and Jobs; Learning; Moving Around; and Neighborhoods. The development of Community Counts allows for progress to be tracked on a regular basis, acting as a spur to action where improvement is necessary, and a cause for celebration where success is achieved. Other partners are the United Way of Central Alabama, the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama and the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham. Community Counts was unveiled in April 2005 and is available by clicking Communty Counts..

Center for Regional Planning and Design: Region 2020 relocated in May 2003 to the new Center for Regional Planning and Design in downtown Birmingham, located in the historic Young and Vann Supply Co. building. Joining Region 2020 as partners in the Center are the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham and the Auburn Center for Architecture and Urban Studies. The Center serves as a source for the planning and design work. Region 2020 is housed at the new Center necessary to support Region 2020’s goals for building better places to live. The Center brings together government entities, civic groups, neighborhood organizations, businesses and citizens to develop and coordinate plans and programs to enhance neighborhoods, towns and cities. The partners are soliciting funds to expand and support the Center. Plans call for a state-of-the-art regional community conference center, which would include videoconferencing capabilities and a town hall space.

Arts and Culture Master Plan and Establishment of the Cultural Alliance:

The Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham was established in September 2003. The formation of the Cultural Alliance was one of the key recommendations of the Arts and Culture Master Plan, which was released in March 2003 by Region 2020 and The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. The mission is to ensure that the goals and strategies of the master plan -- which established a broad agenda for strengthening arts and culture regionally based on the community’s needs -- are carried out. The Cultural Alliance is involved in: advocacy, funding, facilities, economic development, cultural education, neighborhood development, and public art and festivals. The Alliance was incubated at Region 2020, and is located at the Center for Regional Planning and Design.

Housing Enterprise of Central Alabama: The Housing Enterprise of Central Alabama (HECA) is an institution formed by Region 2020 to support the development of entry-level housing in a 12-county area surrounding Birmingham. HECA is a joint venture made up of AmSouth Bank, Regions Bank, Compass Bank, and New South Federal Savings Bank. HECA has a charitable foundation, the non-profit Housing Fund of Central Alabama (the Fund). In addition to the financial institutions involved with HECA, investors in the Fund are The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, the Walker (County) Area Community Foundation and the Calhoun County Community Foundation. The mission of HECA and the Fund is to lend money to private and non-profit developers to help build and renovate safe, decent, entry-level housing for low- and moderate-income families. Jointly, HECA and the Fund provide gap financing and/or more aggressive construction/acquisition loans or investments to qualified projects. HECA grew out of an affordable housing initiative launched in 2002 by Region 2020 and funded by community foundations and major financial institutions. HECA and the Fund are catalysts for neighborhood revitalization, economic development and the creation of housing opportunities in areas not typically accessible to families of moderate means. Michele Jenkins-Utomi was hired in April 2003 as chief executive officer. HECA was incubated at Region 2020, and now has offices at the Center for Regional Planning and Design.

Education Initiatives:

• Web 2020: Web 2020 offered free technology support services to the 34 school systems in the Region 2020 area during the 2002-2003 school year. The Alabama Supercomputer Authority, a Huntsville-based non-profit that provides technology resources and services to the state’s education community, provided and managed the web server and provides on-site consulting services for the Region 2020-sponsored service. Support included technology planning, project and vendor assessments, training and special projects assistance.

• Professional Development for Teachers: Region 2020 partnered with the Alabama Best Practices Center during 2002-2003 to help teachers evaluate whether their school’s professional development plans directly improved teaching and learning. The program, called “Powerful Conversations about Teaching and Learning,” involved sending facilitators to Region 2020-area schools to work with faculty and principals on a staff development self-assessment. The program received funding from The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.